Worcester dentist burned in flash fire at dental office

Thursday

Oct 11, 2012 at 5:00 PMOct 11, 2012 at 10:37 PM

A dentist suffered burns today when a liquid fuel being poured into a lamp in his downtown office ignited in a flash fire. Deputy Chief Geoffrey Gardell said the fire occurred when an assistant was attempting to fill the lamp, used to soften dentures, with an alcohol-based fuel. He said the dentist suffered second-degree burns to his face and the assistant suffered minor burns.

By Winston W. Wiley TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

A dentist suffered burns today when a liquid fuel being poured into a lamp in his downtown office ignited in a flash fire.

Deputy Chief Geoffrey Gardell said the fire occurred when an assistant was attempting to fill the lamp, used to soften dentures, with an alcohol-based fuel. He said the dentist suffered second-degree burns to his face and the assistant suffered minor burns.

The dentist, identified as Stanley Levenson, was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus. The assistant refused treatment, Deputy Chief Gardell said.

“They were refilling the lamp and didn't take the proper precautions” while doing so, the deputy chief said.

The fire was out in flash, Deputy Chief Gardell said, and caused minimal damage to the office at 9 Linden St. He said there was no structural damage to the building and the damage was confined to melting of a light fixture.

“It's very short and very hot,” Deputy Gardell said of the flash fire.

Additional information on Dr. Levenson's condition was not available from the hospital tonight.

The fire was reported at 3:43 p.m. and employees of the office were outside on the sidewalk when firefighters arrived.